Veggies. - Rapid City, South Dakota - restaurant reviews

Vegetarian Times, August, 1996 by Cheryl Orr

If you're headed toward that famous national monument, Mount Rushmore, in the Black Hills of South Dakota, be sure to stop by a lesser-known local icon: Veggies.

This combination restaurant, health food store and delicatessen--rated one of the state's best by local papers--is totally vegan and users no refined sugars or flours. Best of all, it's a shining beacon of wholesome dining in a part of the country not known for vegetarian fare.

Owner/chef Mary Bernt has built a solid reputation for excellent food and great service over the last five years. She began with a simple health food store, then fell into the other ventures while working as a personal cook for a local businessman. The man was so impressed with her culinary skills he inspired her to open a vegan restaurant. Today, running a restaurant and store isn't enough for Bernt, who is committed to educating the community on the benefits of a vegan diet. Young and old enjoy Veggies' food and sign up for Bernt's cooking classes. Later this year, she even has a cookbook coming out.

The buffet-style menu at Veggies includes three garden salads, veggie burgers with homemade buns and a tantalizing daily entree. Recent specials have included: spinach fettuccine with tofu meatballs; black bean enchiladas; wild rice patties with home-style vegan gravy; eggless "egg" rolls with tofu stir-fry; Swedish "meatballs" over couscous; and black bean sweet potato pie. For dessert, try delicious vegan ice cream, fudgie carob tofu brownies or almond cream cookies. There's also fresh carrot juice and herb teas.

For those who can't get enough of Bern't salads with parsley onion or toasted sesame dressings, she has added a deli section, and anyone can subscribe to Food For Thought, her new monthly newsletter filled with articles and recipes, available for a small donation.

Address: 2050 W. Main Ste. 7, Rapid City, S.D. 57702 Hours: Mon - Thurs 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Fri 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Sun noon to 5 p.m. Telephone: (605) 348-5019 Menu: Vegan Prices: $6.35 (all you can eat); a la carte also available. Dress: Casual Alcohol: No Smoking: No Clientele: Tourists, area vegetarians Seats: 38 Credit Cards: No, but out-of-state checks are accepted Wheelchair Accessible: Yes Reservations: None taken

class. Cost: $575 includes meals and classes Accommodation: $220 double/$300 single Per diem: $115 includes meals arid classes Contact: Miria Pencke Kushi Institute P.O. Box 390 Becket, MA 01223 (413) 623-5741, ext. 151

HerbFest '96 Tradition Meets Science Norway, Iowa August 15 to 18, 1996 Explore how tradition and science are influencing modern herbal healing. Classes will be taught by top herbalists such as Rosemary Gladstar, Robert McCaleb, Kurt Schnaubelt, Joseph Pizzorno Holly Shimizu and Gail Ulrich. There's also a complete program for the children.

Cost: $165, includes all seminars, camping, and six vegetarian meals.

Contact: Marilyn Gerhold Frontier Herbs 3021 78th St. Norway, IA 52318 (800) 669-3275

9th Annual Women'S Herbal Conference Sargent Camp, Peterborough, N.H. August 23 to 25, 1996 Renowned herbalists/healers such as Dr. Tori Hudson, Vicki Noble, Susan Weed and others will be the teachers at this year's conference, which focuses on women's health, and offers a variety of healing modalities for women's health problems. The conference features more than 30 workshops for all levels of interest and expertise. Included are herbal crafts, medicine making, hands-on demonstrations, herb walks, ceremonies, women's circles, music and an herbal marketplace. Retreat facilities are located on 700 wooded acres and include camping, indoor accommodations in comfortable cabins and large indoor classrooms.

Cost: $225, includes meals and camping. Cabins are an additional $35.

Contact: Katie Pickens RR1, Box 3000 Wolcott, VT 05680 (802) 888-3736